Rectal dilator and medicator



Feb. 28, 1950 F. R. WALKER E I'AL RECTAL DILATOR AND MEDICATOR Filed Aug. 16, 1948 o 00 o 0000 lllll ulll olll |||ll i m w M A W N An 5 5% fl w Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITEDISTATES PATENT- OFFICE RECTAL DILATOR AND MEDICATOR Frank Ray Walker and Frank Herman Young, Long Beach, Calif.

Application August 16, 1948, Serial No. 44,474

12 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to ano-rectal dilators and medicators and particularly to a device of this character which is adapted for use in connection with the treatment of disorders of the ano-rectal canal wherein it is desirable to dilate or expand the walls of the canal to a predetermined degree and simultaneously apply medicament to the Walls of the canal to treat the affected areas thereof.

In the treatment of hemorrhoids and other disordersor diseases of the ano-rectal canal it has been found advantageous to employ an inflatable or distensible bag or the like which is adapted for insertion into the ano-rectal canal and subsequently enlarged by expansion under the influence of air or liquid introduced into the bag under pressure. In some instances, when it is desirable to treat the walls of the ano-rectal cavity with healing ointment or the like, it is the common practice to first dilate the walls of the anal passage and thereafter apply such medicament to the walls subsequent to'the withdrawal of the dilatorfrom the passage and while the walls of the canal are in stretched condition. 1

It has been proposed to provide a device which functions to simultaneously dilate the walls of the ano-rectal canal and supply a treating agent to the walls. Such devices may be classed as syringes in that the fluid used for expanding the bag is the same fluid used as the treating agent, the fluid passing outwardly from the bag through apertures therein to contact the walls of the anorectal passage. While such a treatment-is beneficial in treating certain diseases or conditions, it is apparent that the device functions merely to cleanse or flush the walls of the passage since its use is limited to the use of relatively thin liquid which does not adhere to the walls of the canal to any appreciably degree. In other words, a dilator-syringe of the general character referred to above is entirely unsuitable for use in applying medicament of a viscous nature, such as ointment, salves, and the like, to the walls of the canal. For this reason, it has heretofore been deemed necessary to follow the procedure discussed first above, that is, to first dilate the walls of the ano-rectal canal and subsequently insert the viscous medicament by separate instrumentalities.

It has been discovered that the most beneficial results are obtained when ointment, or other treating agent of a viscous nature, is forcibly applied to the affected walls of the canal, that is, injected into the tears or fissures occurring in the rectal walls and which it is desired to heal by the treating agent. Itis therefore an important 2 object to provide a device, referred to hereinafter as a rectal dilator-medicator, which operates on the novel principle of simultaneously dilating the ano-rectal Walls to expand the muscles and thus expose the tears, fissures or other abnormalities and injecting ointment or other viscous treating agent into the same so as to completely and effectively apply the agent to the affected areas.

Another object is to provide a device, of the character referred to, in which pneumatic pressure is employed for expanding the dilator bag and the same pressurized air is utilized as the means for forcibly injecting the treating agent into the affected areas.

Another object is to provide a rectal medication dilator which has an inner rubber bladder element capable of being inflated, a pervious, nonstretchable fabric form element surrounding the bladder and capable of being distended by the bladder only to a predetermined size and form, and an outer perforated rubber bag or casing also adapted to expand and follow the contours of the fabric form element. By this construction, air introduced under pressure into the device, through a tube within the rubber bladder, acts to inflate the assembly, but since such distention is limited by the non-stretchable fabric, the device assumes a substantially rigid shape and size which is determined by that of the fabric form element and thus cannot expand beyond this size. A related object is to provide a device of this type in which fabric form elements of different sizes and contours can be used so that the devices can be used in the treatment of ano-rectal passages of different sizes. A further related object is to provide a device of this character in which a gauze tube saturated with suitable medicament is adapted to be disposed between the inner rubber bladder and the fabric form element, the tube being adapted to be compressed in response to out- Ward pressure exerted by the inflated bladder. By this means, the medicament is caused to be squeezed out from the tube and to be ejected through the fabric form element and through the perforations of the outer rubber casing so as to contact the affected areas of the anal passage dilated by the device.

Another object of our invention isto provide a rectal medication dilator which is insertable into the rectal passage in a deflated condition and thereafter expanded to proper size and shape so that the device can be conveniently inserted and removed without causing discomfort to the person undergoing the treatment. 1

A further object is to provide a combined rectal dilator and applicator which is particularly simple in construction, being composed of a minimum number of components adapted for economical mass production and capable of being readily assembled without the use of tools.

A still further and important object is to provide a rectal dilator-medicator device which, when inflated within the rectal passage, assumes a shape having a central, substantially cylindrical, portion, an inner knob-like nodule, and an outer nodule of similar form. By this construction, the central or intermediate cylindrical portion, which is of a length substantially equal to the length of the anal passage, engages the anal walls throughout their entire length. The inner nodule, which may be disposed within the colon, serves to retain the inflated device within the anal canal. The outer nodule is adapted to engage the exterior portions of the anus so as to exert a compressive stress on veins which may protrude from the anus.

Further objects of our invention will appear from the following specification and from the drawing, which is intended for the purpose of illustration only, andin which:

Fig. ii is alongitudinal sectional view through our improved rectal dilator-applicator device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same, taken on line 2--.2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. .3 is a composite view of the several .main components of the device.

Referring to the.drawing in detail, the present device for treating hemorrhoids and other rectal disorders comprises a tube which has apertures y .or perforations 6 therein, and which is .provided'with.aroundedhead '1 at .one end for insertion into the end .ofa length of flexible tubing vor.-hose 8. The other end of the tubingB is connected toa rubber bulb .lil. Inother cases, the

.tubing can be connected to a hand pump or other air. pressurizing means. Disposed in the tubing .81isa manually operable valve ll. Adjacent its roundedhead l, the tube5 is provided with a pair .ofmperipheralflanges !2 which define between them-anannularrecess S3. ,The tube .5 may be made-from any material, and we havev found that various plastic materials are especially suitable for thepurpose and adapted for mass production bya molding process.

The-device also includes a bladder element [5 which ,made from rubber or other readily stretchable material. The bladder element is in the form of an elongated finger and has a .closed endlB and an open end provided with a flange 11. The bladder-element I5 is adapted to enclose the.perforated portion of thetube 5 with its flanged {811C117 .disposed in the recess l3 of the tube as .shown in Fig. l.

Surroundingthe bladder element H5 is a form element 20 which ispreferably made fromfabric .or other flexible, pervious material. Theelement :20 has .a 'closed endi2l and an open endhaving a flange 22 adapted to be positioned in the recess 13 .of .the tuber5. Theform element .2l3.normally assumes a collapsed,,puckered form as'shownin Fig. ,3, but is capable of being distended to the contour shown in Fig. 1. It is to be noted that the element 20 is incapable of expanding to a .size larger than that illustrated in Fig. 1 so that, iii-effect, it defines the size and shape of the dilator-medicator device when the latter is distended.

A resilient casing element 25 having perforations 26 is adapted to surround the fabric form element and has a closed end 21 and a flanged open end 28 which is adapted to be disposed in the recess E3 of the tube 5 in stretched condition so as to retain all the parts in connected relationship. The casing element 25 is preferably made from rubber so as to provide a smooth outer surface for the dilator-medicator device to adapt the latter to be readily slid into the ano-rectal canal.

As thus far described, the device, including the tube 5, bladder element 15, fabric form element 26 and rubber casing element 25, is adapted for use in dilating the walls of the ano-rectal canal. To effect this operation, the device in its collapsed form, that is, uninflated, is inserted through the anus and slid into position adjacent that area of the .rectal passage which is dilated. When the device has been thus positioned, the bulb 10 is depressed so as to force air from the bulb through the tubing 8, into the interior of .the :rubber bladder element 15, .by way of the plastic tube "5 and its perforations 5. By this procedure, air pressure is developed within the bladder 181811181113 l5 which thenexpands to cause distension of the fabric form element .20 and the outer rubber casing 25. Since the element 20 can expand only ;to the form shown in Fig. 1, the entire assembly vmust assume this size and contour. The element 2.0 issodesigned that when it is distended it providesinner and .outer heads orlnodulesfill and 31 which tend to retain the ,device .at the desired location within the rectal passage. The central or intermediate portion '23 of the element 20, that is, theportion disposed between the nodules 3t and SI, is of alengthsubstantially equal to that of the anal passage so that it contacts the .entirelength of the ano-rectal wall. Thexinner 'heador nodule 3fl.is adapted to be disposed within the lower end of the colon and thus when it is inflated ,itserves to retain the deviceinplace. The outer head 3! is adapted .to'engage'theexterior portions of the anus and to exert a compressive stress on veins whichmay protrudefrom the anus. In order to maintain the device :in its inflated condition for a period of time, the valve is closed to prevent relief .of the .air pressure within-the device, and,.after the affectedareahasbeen dilatedifor a prescribed time, the valve isqopened-to relieve the air pressure'and thus permit collapsing of the device to enable'the latter .to be readily withdrawn from .the ano-rectal passage.

It has been explained that an important objectof the presentinventionis toprovide means for applying ointment or other treating agent to the affected area of the rectalcanal during the dilation .of the rectal wall. Thisiobject is readily attained by interposing a quantity of the agent-between the zfSJbT-iC form elementifl and the outer perforated rubber casing 25 at the center'portions thereof. Bythis provision, when the device is inflated, ,the'treating agent is forced outwardly through the perforations 26and into contact with the affected areas of the rectal passage. Tears,'fissures andother injuries usually .occur-when therectal'walls are in a dilated state, and it .is apparent, therefore, that when the wall muscles contract these injured areas are partially-or wholly :covered by the muscles and folds 0f 1the wall so -.that.medicaments cannot be .eflectivelyapplieduntil the walls are dilated to thestate in which the :injury occurred. By our improved @dilator-medicator device, the walls .of the .rectal passage are dilated and the treating xagent simultaneously .applied to the aifected areas so that positive medication of th'e injured surfaces is obtained. Moreover, the present device is capable of effecting the degree of dilation necessary to straighten the walls and to break down scar tissue" and strictures that may be present, it beingnotedthat the device is inflated to a point of rigidityas determined by the size and shape of the non-stretchable fabric form member 20. Complete inflation of the instrument is necessary in order to force the blood from hemorrhoids, both internal and protruding, and thus to relieve any strain present. This pressure treatment is given to relax the anal muscles and to inject the medicament into the affected area whereby these parts may be soothed and assisted to a normal healthy state. The instrument may be designed in sizes to meet the requirements as determined by results. obtained through medical experience. 1

It is within the concept of our invention to provide a dilator-medicator instrument whichutilizes a novel medicament unit, the present drawing showing this unit as embodied in a tubular element 40. The element 40 is preferably made as a wad of cotton or gauze folded into tubular form and saturated with any suitable medicament commonly employed in the treatment of hemorrhoids and other anal disorders, the medicament being of viscous or semi-viscous character. The saturated gauze element 40 is applied to the instrument by merely wrapping it around the central portion of the fabric form element 20, after which the outer rubber casing 25 is slid thereover and its flanged end 28 engaged in the recess I3 of the tube 5. When pneumatic pressure is applied to the interior of the device, the element 40 is compressed so that the medicament thereof is squeezed out and ejected through the perforations 26 of the casing 25 into contact with the affected areas which are simultaneously dilated by the inflation of the instrument. Due to the provision of the heads, 30 and '3I,, the medicament is confined to the walls of the anorectal passage and prevented from flowing into the colon or outwardly through anus. Following such treatment, the gauze may be removed and another fully saturated element substituted therefor. However, since the entire dilator-medicator device can be made economically and sold at a very reasonable price, it may be considered a better policy to discard the entire instrument after a treatment and substitute another instrument which has been pre-packed with the medicament.

While we have herein disclosed the combined dilator and applicator device as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by way of example, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, we reserve the right to all such changes and modifications as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An instrument for the medicinal treatment of anal disorders. comprising: a plurality of baglike elements superimposed, one over another, and together providing an inflatable device adapted to be inserted into the anal passage in collapsed condition and to be inflated to dilate the walls of the passage, an inner element of said plurality of elements being collapsible but nonstretchable and thus defining the shape and size of the inflated device, there being an annular space provided beneath the outermost of said 1 through which the medicament can be forced from said space whensaid inner, non-stretchable ,ele-, ment is inflated in response to fluid pressure ap plied therewithin. I I

. 2. An instrument for the medicinal treatment of anal disorders, comprising: a plurality of baglike elements superimposed, one over another, and together providing an inflatable device adapted to be inserted into the anal passage in collapsed condition and to be inflated to dilate the walls of the passage, an inner element of said plurality of elements being collapsible but nonstretchable and thus defining the shape and size of'the inflated device, there being an annular space provided beneath the outermost of said elements in which a medicament can be disposed, said outermost element having a smooth outer surface and being impervious but provided with perforations through which the medicament can be forced from said space when said inner, nonstretchable element is inflated in response to fluid pressure applied therewithin.

3. An instrument for the medicinal treatment of anal disorders, comprising: a plurality'of baglike elements superimposed, one over another, and together providing an inflatable device adapted to be inserted into the anal passage in collapsed condition and to be inflated to dilate the walls of the passage, the innermost of said elements beingexpansible, the outermost element having a smooth outer surface and provided with perforations, and an intermediate element being collapsible but non-stretchable and thus defining the-shape and size of the inflated device, there being an annular space provided between said outermost element and said intermediate element in which a medicament can be disposed and from which it can be ejected through the perforations of said outermost element when said device is inflated in response to fluid pressure introduced thereinto.

4. An instrument for the medicinal treatment of anal disorders, comprising: a plurality of baglike elements superimposed one over another, and together providing an inflatable device adapted to be inserted into the anal passage in collapsed condition and to be inflated to dilate the walls of the passage, the innermost of said elements being expansible, the outermost element being expansible and having a smooth outer surface and provided with perforations, and an intermediate element being collapsible but non-stretchable and thus defining the shape and size of the inflated device, there being an annular space provided between said outermost element and said intermediate element in which a medicament can be disposed and from which it can be ejected through the perforations of said outermost element when said device is inflated in response to fluid pressure introduced thereinto.

5. An instrument as defined in claim 4 in which said intermediate element is of a fabric nature and has a pair of spaced head portions.

6. An instrument as defined in claim 4 in which said intermediate element is of a distensible but substantially non-stretchable nature and has a central cylindrical portion of a length substantially equal to that of an ano-rectal passage.

'7. An instrument as defined in claim 4 in which said intermediate element is of a distensible but substantially non-stretchable nature and has a central cylindrical portion of a length substantially equal to that of an ano-rectal passage, a

first head adapted; to bedisposed within the colon,

the anus and to compress veins. protruding from the anus.

8. An instrument as defined in claim 4 in which said intermediate element is of a distensible but substantially non-stretchable nature and has a central cylindrical portion of a length substantially equal to that of anano-rectal passage, a first knob-like distensible head adapted to be disposed within the colon to retain said instrument in place, and a second knob-like distensible head. adapted to engage the exterior portion ofthe anus and to compress veins protruding, from the anus.

9. An instrument as defined in claim 4 and including a relatively rigid, perforated tube disposed within the innermost element through which fluid under pressure can be introduced into the device, said tube having a peripheral recess for receiving the normally open ends of the several elements.

10. Aninstrument for the medicinal treatment of anal disorders, comprising; a plurality of baglike elements superimposed, one over another, and together providing an inflatable device adapted to be inserted into the anal passage in collapsed condition and to be inflated to dilate the walls of the passage, the innermost-of said elements being expansible, the outermost element having, a smooth outer surface andprovidedwith perforations, and an intermediate element being collapsible but non-stretchable and thus defining,

the shape and size of the inflated device, there being an annular space provided between said outermost element and said intermediate ele-- ment;. and a compressible medication element containing a medicament adaptedtobe disposed in said space, said medicamentv being ejected through the perforations of said outermost element when said, medication element is compressed in response to inflation of the device.

11, An instrument as defined in claim 7 in which said medication element consists of fabric saturated with the medicament.

12. An instrument for the treatment of anal disorders, comprising: a perforated tubev adapted toreceive; fluidunder pressure and provided with perforations through which the fluid can flow therefrom; an inflatable member surrounding said tube and having a closed end and an open end; attached to said tube so as to provide a pressure chamber for receiving the fluid from said tube; a collapsible non-stretchable form member surrounding said inflatable member; and a perforated casing: member surroundin said form member, said form member being adapted to receivea medicament. on its external surface, said instrument being adapted to-be inserted, in a deflated condition, into the anal passage and to expand in response to fluid pressure in said tube so as. to effect dilation of the Walls of the anal passage, the size and shape of the expanded instrument: being defined by the form member, the medicament. being ejected through the perforations of. said casing member during such expansion of the. instrument.

FRANK RAY WALKER. FRANK HERMAN YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,690,995 Pratt Nov. 6, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 101,188 Germany Jan. 24, 1899 238,039 Greatv Britain Aug. 13, 1925 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,499,045 February 28, 1950 FRANK RAY WALKER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 18, for the Word ointment read ointments; line 26, for supply read apply; column 5, line 45, after through insert the; column 8, list of references cited, line 42, for 238,039 read 238,038;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'saz'oner of Patents. 

